Openly gay Annapolis city council candidate Scott Bowling, a Republican, is being smeared as a child molester by an anonymous group urging support for his Democratic opponent.

A flier circulated by an anonymous group called 'Friends and Supporters of Black Annapolis' attacked Scott Bowling, a Republican running for the Ward 3 City Council seat who is openly gay. It is unclear who is behind the attack — the document doesn't have an authority line as required by law for political literature. The typo-filled flier urges voters to support his opponent, incumbent Alderwoman Classie Hoyle, and the Democratic nominee for mayor, Josh Cohen. "Keep our Sister, Dr. Classie Gyllis [sic] Hoyle. Vote Tuesday for Dr. Classie Hoyle and Josh Cohen. Keep our African American Power. Keep us from Sin and Sexual Assault. Bowling will be danger [sic] to us all and our children," the flier reads, in part. Bowling condemned the flier as filled with 'hatred and bigotry' and illegal. He said he has called federal authorities and the state Attorney General's Office to investigate it as a hate crime and a violation of the Voting Rights Act, landmark legislation designed to curb discriminatory voting practices.

The Democratic candidate for Annapolis mayor has denounced the flier. Bowling's city council opponent, the incumbent, has not returned calls requesting comment.